Porsche's mid-engined sportscars get halo offerings with uprated 3.4-litre flat six and more fast

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Let's start with the Cayman. Porsche has today announced the fastest and most powerful ever Cayman to grace the streets of the World. It's the new Cayman GTS, and it's more powerful and more fast than any other before it.

This is chiefly because the 3.4-litre flat-six ‘boxer' engine has been tuned to deliver 340bhp (15bhp more than before) and 280lb ft of torque, while the Sport Chrono pack and active suspension have both been fitted as standard.

Both of those allow the driver to fine tune damper stiffness and throttle response, and in conjunction with Porsche's PDK double-clutch auto ‘box (which features launch control), the new Cayman GTS is able to accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds. That's a full 0.3s quicker than a Cayman S. Top speed sits at 177mph.

And that Sport Chrono pack includes dynamic engine mounts; when accelerating, cornering or braking, the mountings between the body and engine stiffen to reduce the effects of mass transfer. Yup, dynamic engine mounts. That's progress for you.

You get a new front spoiler and black-finish bi-xenon headlights, a new lower rear apron, 20in Carrera S alloys and the option of a 20mm lower ride height. Yours for £55,397.

Now the Boxster. The drop-top sports car also gets the same 3.4-litre flat-six, here tuned to deliver 330bhp and 273lb ft of torque, that - together with the PDK gearbox - sprints from 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds (0.3s quicker than the Boxster S), and on to a top speed of 174mph; the first ever Boxster to top the 280km/h barrier.

There's the same Sport Chrono pack and active suspension as in the Cayman, a launch control function, the dynamic engine mounts that reduce the weight transfer when your palms get sweaty, 20in Carrera S alloys and the option of a chassis that's 20mm lower.

Externally the Boxster GTS gets a new front spoiler, rear apron and black-finish bi-xenon headlights, and inside there are sports seats and much Alcantara. This one will cost you £52,879, and both Cayman and Boxster GTS models will be available from May.